Distinguished Alumni Award

The Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Nurses Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award was established to honor alumni who have given distinguished service to the nursing profession. The Award is presented annually by the members of the Alumni Association to a graduate nominated by his or her fellow alumni who has brought distinction to the college through broadly recognized professional accomplishments. It is the highest honor that the Alumni Association can bestow upon one of its own.

All graduates of St. Luke's, Presbyterian, Presbyterian-St. Luke's and Rush University College of Nursing are eligible to receive this award.  The award is presented each year at the Homecoming Banquet as part of alumni weekend festivities.

The winner for 2008 was Maria A. Connolly, PhD, RN, FCCM (Rush DNSc 1992), dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. At Homecoming, Connolly delivered the distinguished alumna lecture "Back to the Future: Nurse-Managed Care."

The Martha Mills, RN, Alumni Service Award

The Martha Mills, RN, Alumni Service Award was established to provide special recognition to alumni and friends of the Rush University College of Nursing who have demonstrated outstanding loyalty and support to the college and/or its alumni association.

The award, named for its first recipient, former alumni association president and longtime volunteer Martha Mills, MS, RN (Presbyterian-St. Luke’s 1965), is awarded by the alumni association at Homecoming on an as-needed basis.